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Nettie Lassiter of Nashville sees parchment paper being used quite a bit and wants to know if it is a necessary purchase or if waxed paper would work.Nettie, cooking parchment is terrific because it will not burn in the oven. It is commonly used as a lining in baking pans so that baked goods donít stick. I like to use it to wrap foods for baking, a process known as en papillote. It keeps the food very moist and is similar to steaming, keeping foods low in fat.

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My mother and grandmother never used a thermometer of any kind in the kitchen. They just somehow knew when the meat was perfectly done or when the candy was ready. But I am the biggest fan youíve ever seen when it comes to utilizing thermometers because they make me a better cook. So here are a few gift ideas for the cook on your holiday list.

Meat thermometers can be either oven safe or instant read and there are lots of options for both. Oven-safe types are designed to be placed in the food before it goes into the oven and generally are used in large meat cuts. The most common ones have a large dial that can be easily seen from the lit oven window.

Instant-read thermometers cannot be left in the oven. Instead, they quickly measure the temperature within about 15 seconds after inserting the probe about 2 inches into the food. It is important to wash the probe with hot soapy water after each insertion.

Pop-up timers have been produced since 1965 and are remarkably reliable when placed correctly into the roasting turkey or chicken. These are single-use items and are made of food-approved nylon. Inside, there is a stainless-steel spring that is released when the food item reaches the proper temperature. Many products already have the timer inserted to eliminate user error.

Candy/deep fat thermometers measure temperatures from 100 to 400 degrees. These typically clip onto the side of the pan.

Refrigerator/freezer thermometers are a must, especially in the event of a power outage. Food will hold its top quality in the freezer at zero degrees. The refrigerator should be no warmer than 40 degrees.

Oven thermometers can be left in the appliance and make sure your oven is heating to the desired temperature. They can measure temperatures from 100 to 600 degrees and can sit or hook onto a rack.